Supervision device for ambulatory infusion

Abstract

Disclosed is a supervision device (9) for supervising liquid drug flow in a flow channel (20). The supervision device (9) includes a flow detector (1), arranged for operatively coupling with the flow channel (20) and generating a flow detector signal in dependence of a flow in the flow channel (20) at a flow detection location. The supervision device (9) further includes a gas detector (8), arranged for operatively coupling with the flow channel (20) and generating a gas detector signal in dependence of whether liquid drug or gas is present in the flow channel (20) at a gas detection location at a distance upstream from the flow detection location. The supervision device (9) further includes a processing unit (90) in operative coupling with the flow detector (1) and the gas detector (8), wherein the processing unit (90) is configured to determine, based on a the gas detector signal, whether non-flowing liquid drug is present at the flow detection location or a gas bubble passes the flow detector if the flow detector signal does not indicate a liquid drug flow.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present disclosure lies in the field of ambulatory infusion systems and ambulatory infusion devices, as used in a number of therapies, in particular diabetes therapy. More particularly, the disclosure lies in the field of supervising the liquid drug administration.BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART[0002]Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) is an established state-of the art therapy of diabetes mellitus. It is carried out via sophisticated computer-controlled ambulatory infusion devices that are commercially available from a number of suppliers. Traditionally, such ambulatory infusion devices are realized as miniaturized syringe driver devices and are worn, e.g., in a trousers' pocket, with a belt clip, or the like. Recently, alternative devices have been developed that are directly attached to the patient's skin. Also alternative fluidic designs have been proposed, e.g. downstream dosing architectures with a variable intermediate dosing cylinder, as disclos...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present patent aims to improve the use of flow detectors in an ambulatory infusion device by reducing the likelihood of false detections due to gas bubbles or occlusions. It introduces a gas detector with two optical emitters and detectors, which can better distinguish gas bubbles from actual flow. The flow detector also includes thermoelectric elements that are designed to improve reliability and safety, especially in cases where the flow channel is curved. Another embodiment includes a common carrier that enhances the thermal coupling between the thermoelectric elements and the flow channel, despite the increased distance between them. Overall, the patent provides technical solutions to improve the accuracy and reliability of flow detection in an ambulatory infusion device.

Problems solved by technology

For a number of reasons related to handling, manufacture and in particular costs, however, such approach is undesirable and largely unfeasible.

When providing the heating element and the temperature sensors as part of the ambulatory infusion device with a releasable coupling to a flow channel, e.g. a piece of tubing, however, a good thermal coupling e.g. with the tubing walls is hard to achieve.

Due to the very limited space in ambulatory infusion devices, however, some amount of curvature or bending is typically present in the tubing, resulting in an at least partly insufficient thermal coupling.

Small flow rates respectively an administration of small liquid drug amounts is therefore impossible to supervise.

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